Racing / The Cheltenham Festival: The Fellow wins a first for France: Doumen's delight

FRANCE won the Gold Cup for the first time at Cheltenham yesterday when Francois Doumen's The Fellow captured jump racing's Blue Riband at the fourth attempt.

As expected, the race thrust forward a horse to enter steeplechasing's highest hall of excellence. But while many had expected the new member to be Jodami, who failed by one-and-a-half lengths to become the first horse for over 20 years to win consecutive Gold Cups, the name on the monument belonged to The Fellow.

A double winner of Britain's early season championship, the King George VI Chase at Kempton, the gelding would now have a record to match even the great Arkle in the Gold Cup if the fates had ridden with him. Fourth in the race last year, The Fellow was runner-up the previous two seasons, beaten each time by the length of a well-used pencil.

'He proved three years ago and again two years ago that he's one of the top-class horses in Europe,' Doumen said. 'But I never thought this would happen because he got so near, so many times. Maybe I'm in shock.'

The contrast between the principal camps could not have been more different before play. Jodami was saddled by the uncomplicated Yorkshire farmer, Peter Beaumont, a solid figure in a dark blue jacket and flat cap. Across the ring, the well-groomed Doumen in designer apparel beneath a crown of striking grey looked like everyone hopes they will at 53.

The respective horses were also different. The Fellow, guarded as usual by lads on either side, looked sleek, while Jodami imposed with huge flanks in front of a backside like a housekeeper's at the scullery sink.

But while the shapes differed, there was a symmetry about the ease of motion as the race developed after a cagey first circuit. The Fellow was positioned closer than usual to the pace, dictated for much of the way by Young Hustler, Run For Free and Topsham Bay, and Jodami cruised along in his tracks. The towering northern horse cut by far the most imposing silhouette with the tall, upright Mark Dwyer in his saddle.

The Irishman felt for much of the journey that he was going with fluency comparable to 12 months ago, but he recognised there was another swinging along even more pleasingly.

At the last obstacle, as the gallant Young Hustler finally gave way, Dwyer asked for the leap of Jodami's life. It did not come. 'I was travelling like the second best horse in the race and I knew it would have to go right for him at the last,' he said. 'When it didn't I was fighting a losing battle.'

Up front, Adam Kondrat, the 27-year-old Polish-born mechanic's son on board the

7-1 winner scattered the notion that he was unqualified for such a pressured event. 'Sometimes it is good when people say bad things, you try to do better than you have done before,' he said.

The Irish runners, Deep Bramble and Ebony Jane, carried shamrocks in their bridles to mark the St Patrick's Day and the lucky sprig was also to be found on Doumen's lapel.

'Last year I said that I'd never managed to win this race and maybe with this trick I would win,' he said. 'I say thank you to St Patrick.'

He was also grateful for the reception at a meeting which entrances him. 'I love Cheltenham,' the Chantilly trainer said. 'It's absolutely fantastic to hear that crowd for the last furlong. It's something you don't find anywhere else in the world. Maybe the Romans were doing this in the arenas, but only here do we get it now.'

The Fellow has now won more than pounds 850,000 in prize- money and may attempt to become Europe's most successful chaser ever next month in the Grand National. Only two French horses have won at Liverpool, the last of them in 1962, but that historical trend will not disturb Doumen. Yesterday he broke one that stretched back 70 years.

(Table omitted)

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